Page 25 of Fruit and Flash

“August is my month for canning and dehydrating extra stock, so this will all be removed.”

“Canning like jam?” Kai asks as we step around the jars to stand beside the big wood bed. He runs a hand along the quilt my grandma made when my parents got married, the blues and patchwork faded from decades of washing. “Or pickles?”

“Pickles, yes. Also Green beans, tomatoes, corn. Plus preserves like peaches and plums. Sometimes I make jam, if I have time.”

“How fun! I’d love to learn how you do that,” Kai gushes, clearly unfamiliar with how much work it takes.

“If you’re around when I’m doing it, I can show you,” I offer, since I usually don’t have Leon help me with the process.

“The closet looks half empty,” Kai points out, and I look over to see it half-full with a few of my dad’s jackets I can fit in. “Was it hard to clear out?”

It was hard, and I’m surprised Kai even thought to ask. Kristen and I didn’t touch our parents room for years, except when I looked for important papers or needed to shower when she was bogarting the hall bath. Eventually, she told me it was time to go through it all and we donated most of their clothes. Kristen has all of the memorabilia like mom’s wedding dress and jewelry, plus photo albums and some antiques, while I kept the farm and the vehicles.

Swallowing past the sudden lump in my throat at the visceral memory, I clear my throat. “At first. But they touched everything in this house. I realized I don’t need to keep their dressers full of clothes someone else in need could be wearing.”

“I remember the struggle when my grandpa died.” Kai steps closer and puts a hand on my chest right above my heart. I swear the damn thing skips a beat at his touch. A slowker-thumpand then a racing beat as our eyes meet. “I’m glad you found a way to honor their memory while moving on.”

Nodding, I feel my brows scrunch and I take off my hat to rub the frown away. Because, did I really move on? I’ve owned their house for almost fifteen years and the only changes I’ve made have been to fix what breaks and get new bedding in my room. The kitchen needs serious upgrading, and I’m used to the wallpaper, but it’s not my style. At what point do I make this house my own?

“There’s an ensuite over there,” I point to the open door, which leads to a bathroom which is the mirror image of the hall bath behind it, but with the original powder blue sink, toilet, and tub.

Kai’ looks in and I see his eyes widen as his mouth forms an O. “Holy mid-century not-so-modern, Batman!”

“Yeah, my grandparents built this place in the fifties.” Running my hat through my hands, I realize my house might be too outdated for Kai to consider staying here. He cares about things like aesthetics. “I updated the other bathroom when there was a leak.”

“Oh, you know how to do renovations?” Kai turns to me with a bright smile. At least he’s not calling it ugly and running away. “That will come in handy.”

“So, yeah. This room and bathroom don't get used much. If it would be easier…” Pausing, I stumble over my words as I decide how to ask this, and Kai waits patiently, seeming to sense I have something important to say. “I mean, I wanted to offer. That is, if you wanted? This room is available. You could, you know, use it?”

After waiting a long moment to see if I add more, Kai’s grin turns sly. “Are you asking me to move in with you, Farmboy?”

“I–no!” I protest then realize I kind of am asking Kai to move in. “Well, yes?”

“To clarify, do you mean I can use this room while I work on the project or stay here?”

“I want you to stay here,” I blurt and feel my face heat. Why does this small man reduce me to a blathering fool like no one else? “It would be easier for you not to drive back and forth. Plus, it’s hot out. You’ll want to start as early in the day as possible. And I can show you farm stuff, too.”

The last bit has Kai’s face shifting from contemplative to flirty again. “What kind of farm stuff can you show me, huh?”

His words echo my own, and I could interpret them to mean taking him outside to feed the animals or plant some radishes, but I’m not actually a fool. I got into college on a sports scholarship, but I had to make grades as well. And I was a ladies man in college. Dropping my hat onto the bed, I give Kai a predatory look.

Stepping into his space, Kai backs up until he hits the sink cabinet. I watch as he licks his lips and I cage him with my hands on the vanity, my face bent over Kai’s until our lips are a breath apart.

“What do you want me to show you, Hawai’i?” I press between his legs with my thigh and I feel his cock twitch in his pants.

Kai runs a hand up my body over my shirt, winding it around my neck before gripping my neck. “I want you to show me how you kiss again.”

The words are barely out of his mouth before I’m on him. The first press is rough as we find our rhythm, then my tongue sweeps along the seam of his mouth as his tongue meets mine. Kai moans and I feel it in my core as my own dick thickens. I don’t want anything but to explore him right now, so I ignore it and lift Kai to sit on the edge of the vanity. He wraps his legsaround my thighs and I let my hands roam, feeling the hard muscles he’s hiding under the thin fabric.

We kiss for what feels like ages, until we’re both hard and panting. Kai’s lips are swollen, with beard burn making them even redder. I find I like this visible sign. I like a mark from me on the young man.

It’s odd. This feels like another pivotal moment. A good one. A core memory in a room littered with memories. I never imagined I’d be kissing a man at all, let alone in my parents’ bathroom while asking him to move in. Speaking of which…

Tilting my forehead to touch his, I feel Kai move his hips, seeking friction. “Maybe you should go back to the apartment and pack,” I suggest, even though I don’t want to let him go. “And we can continue this later.”

“Promise?” Kai asks with a raised eyebrow as we lean away from each other.

“I’ll be right across the hall.”